Triaxial ball-impact piezoelectric converter for autonomous sensors exploiting energy harvesting from vibrations and human motion

Alghisi, Davide; Dalola, Simone; Ferrari, Maurizio; Ferrari, Vittorio

doi:10.1016/j.sna.2015.07.020

Cited by 48 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…In general, many piezoelectric energy harvesters must face the challenge of low and variable frequency vibration, especially of human movement, i.e., the frequency of a vibration source usually does not match with the resonant frequency of a harvester, resulting in low energy conversion efficiency. Several researchers have recently attempted to address this problem in several piezoelectric frequency up-converting energy harvesters [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], which always oscillated at their resonant frequency no matter what the frequency of the vibration source was. Their basic structure can be divided into two main parts: a frequency up-converting mechanism and a piezoelectric cantilever or disc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Evaluation of Double-Stage Energy Harvesting Floor Tile

et al. 2019

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This paper introduces the design and characterization of a double-stage energy harvesting floor tile that uses a piezoelectric cantilever to generate electricity from human footsteps. A frequency up-conversion principle, in the form of an overshooting piezoelectric cantilever, plucked with a proof mass is utilized to increase energy conversion efficiency. The overshoot of the proof mass is implemented by a mechanical impact between a moving cover plate and a stopper to prevent damage to the plucked piezoelectric element. In an experiment, the piezoelectric cantilever of a floor tile prototype was excited by a pneumatic actuator that simulated human footsteps. The key parameters affecting the electrical power and energy outputs were investigated by actuating the prototype with a few kinds of excitation input. It was found that, when actuated by a single simulated footstep, the prototype was able to produce electrical power and energy in two stages. The cantilever resonated at a frequency of 14.08 Hz. The output electricity was directly proportional to the acceleration of the moving cover plate and the gap between the cover plate and the stopper. An average power of 0.82 mW and a total energy of 2.40 mJ were obtained at an acceleration of 0.93 g and a gap of 4 mm. The prototype had a simple structure and was able to operate over a wide range of frequencies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Evaluation of Double-Stage Energy Harvesting Floor Tile

et al. 2019

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“…Various other shoe‐ or limb‐mounted devices have been designed, exploring different force transmission techniques. Howells investigated a mechanism with lead screw and cam that activated piezoelectric cantilevers, while Alghisi explored the activation of piezoelectric membranes with a metal ball that was free to move in a cavity . Xie designed a device that used an amplification mechanism with sliders to generate high strain in piezoelectric bimorphs .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Howells investigatedamechanismw ith lead screw and cam that activated piezoelectric cantilevers, [4] while Alghisi exploredt he activation of piezoelectric membranes with a metal ball that was free to move in ac avity. [5] Xie designed a devicet hat used an amplificationm echanism with sliders to generateh igh strain in piezoelectric bimorphs. [6] Studies on nonlinear techniques for piezoelectrice nergy harvesting from human motionh ave previously been proposed by Green [7] and Cao.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Powering Lights with Piezoelectric Energy‐Harvesting Floors

et al. 2018

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The present work introduces a new technology for converting energy from steps into electricity. It starts with a study of the mechanical energy available from steps in a busy corridor. The subsequent development efforts and devices are presented, with an iterative approach to prototyping. Methods for enhancing the piezoelectric conversion efficiency have been determined as a part of the process and are introduced in the present article. Capitalizing on these findings, we have fabricated energy‐harvesting devices for stairs that power embedded emergency lighting. The typical working unit comprises an energy‐harvesting stair nosing, a power management circuit, and an embedded light‐emitting diode that lights the tread in front of the user with an illuminance corresponding to emergency standards. The stair nosing generates up to 17.7 mJ of useful electrical energy per activation to provide up to 10.6 seconds of light. The corresponding energy density is 0.49 J per meter square and per step, with an 8.5 mm thick active layer.

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“…A prototype has been developed and experimentally tested with resistive elements in the range 400 kΩ-1.2 MΩ and capacitive elements in the range 200 pF-1.2 nF showing measurement resolution values of 1 kΩ and 5 pF, respectively. Operative distances up to 3 cm have been achieved, with readings taken faster than one element of the array per second.Electronics 2019, 8, 675 2 of 15 best operate at their resonant frequency [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. On the other hand, harvesting energy from thermal spatial gradients or time variations is typically based on thermoelectric [14] or pyroelectric effects [15], respectively.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Electronics 2019, 8, 675 2 of 15 best operate at their resonant frequency [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. On the other hand, harvesting energy from thermal spatial gradients or time variations is typically based on thermoelectric [14] or pyroelectric effects [15], respectively.…”

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confidence: 99%

Low-Frequency RFID Signal and Power Transfer Circuitry for Capacitive and Resistive Mixed Sensor Array

et al. 2019

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This paper presents a contactless measurement system for a mixed array of resistive and capacitive sensors exploiting a low-frequency radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based approach. The system is composed of a reader unit which provides power to and exchanges measurement data with a battery-less sensor unit. The sensor unit is based on a transponder operating at 134.2 kHz and a microcontroller. The microcontroller sequentially measures the elements of the sensor array composed of n capacitive and m resistive sensors which share a common terminal. The adopted technique measures the charging time of a resistor–capacitor (RC) circuit, where the resistor or the capacitor can be either the sensing element or a reference component. With the proposed approach, the measured values of the resistive or capacitive elements of the sensor array are first-order independent from the supply voltage level. A prototype has been developed and experimentally tested with resistive elements in the range 400 kΩ–1.2 MΩ and capacitive elements in the range 200 pF–1.2 nF showing measurement resolution values of 1 kΩ and 5 pF, respectively. Operative distances up to 3 cm have been achieved, with readings taken faster than one element of the array per second.

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Triaxial ball-impact piezoelectric converter for autonomous sensors exploiting energy harvesting from vibrations and human motion

Cited by 48 publications

References 33 publications

Design and Evaluation of Double-Stage Energy Harvesting Floor Tile

Design and Evaluation of Double-Stage Energy Harvesting Floor Tile

Powering Lights with Piezoelectric Energy‐Harvesting Floors

Low-Frequency RFID Signal and Power Transfer Circuitry for Capacitive and Resistive Mixed Sensor Array

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